Google is constantly changing and evolving so you need to keep up with the changes.  Their recent changes, called the Panda Update, caused many sites’ rankings to drop significantly.  Google’s mission is to provide the highest quality information for each search done and in doing this, many sites get lost in the endless pages of search results.

To get your website increased ranking there are many things you can do and many things you should not do.  I have tried to list some of the more effective things you should do and a couple things you should not do for better placement in Google.

1. Limit Your Advertising – If you have a hodgepodge or cluttering of advertising on your site, this can decrease your ranking.  Google considers excess advertising to be a sign of a low-quality spam site.  And remember, Google’s goal is to provide the highest quality sites at the top of the search results.Read More→

1. Make time everyday to do your job search. New jobs are posted every day and your best chance to get considered comes with getting your application or resume in as soon as possible after a new job is posted.Read More→

Sending out weekly online newsletters or mailings is a great way to solidify the trust relationship.  But who do you send it to?  Taking the time and effort to build a responsive email list is not easy but it certainly can be done.

The ten tips below will help you get started building that all important list of names and email addresses! Read More→

Over the last couple of years I’ve heard all kinds of excuses from clients with regards to why they have decided to cut back on their social media marketing efforts. Here are just a few:

1. It doesn’t work for me!
2. I’ve seen no real increase in traffic to my website.
3. It takes too much time.
4. Facebook is just a place where people goof off and ‘act’ like they are working.

Read More→

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

I am sitting in my office as I type this article with more than enough things on my to do list. I have tackled my kitchen with hopes of getting my living room and kid’s room in order before a conference call that I have scheduled this evening. At this point I have a few options:

• Option 1: Get frazzled and overwhelmed ending in no productivity.
• Option 2: Start cleaning my living room but with a lack of vision only to look up hours from now with only bits and pieces of each room in order.
• Option 3:Or I can do what has consistently worked for me in the past. That is the Power of One.

Had you visited me earlier today you would know that my kitchen was a hot mess! However, it could now be featured in the next edition of a Home and Garden magazine. I was able to accomplish this by using this tool that I am going to share with you. You may even use it without even knowing it. I have learned the power of focusing on one task at a time and not moving on until it is completed. I did not touch my living room, kids room or any other project until I finished the kitchen. This turns what could sometimes become an all day project into something completed in less than an hour by simply staying focused.

I challenge you today to create a list of the things that you need to get done. Before you decide to dibble and dabble in everything on that list consider the power of one. Decide that you will start somewhere preferably your shortest task so that the instant gratification can keep you motivated and do this task until it is completed. Then move on to the next.

As we transition into 2012, the time for setting goals and resolutions, I want you to consider this tool. See how you are able to accomplish the very goals that you are setting and get them done by utilizing the power of one.

Alright now Home Executives, lets stay focused and start our new year off winning! I would love to hear some feedback and how this may have helped you so feel free to e-mail me at info@ericajefferson.com  I hope that you have a wonderful holiday season and I will “see” you in the New Year!

This is a time in which the Lord is opening up His harvest like never before. Your capacity to receive more joy, power and wealth is expanded every time you stretch your belief, go for something you really desire or encounter a situation that causes you to reach deeply within yourself to muster up the strength to get endure and overcome.

Being the best means that you truly embrace the power, dominion and authority you have been granted through Jesus. It means operating with the love of The Father and opening your heart up to providing solutions to the problems they encounter on a daily basis. When you have a heart to provide their solutions, they are happy to value what you bring to the table.

Being the best means to dominate – yes, dominate – in the area to which you have been called with no apology all while being pure in your heart and spirit and remaining focused on completing the purpose for which the Lord has created you. It is about being the very best you have been called to be. In order to be the best, you have to move beyond what you think you know and tap into the supernatural wisdom of the Lord.

Being the best does not mean comparing yourself or being in competition with others. It is not about admiring or coveting what others have manifested. It is realizing that there is more than enough success to go around for each and everyone. There is no limit to who God is or what He has created and as His beloved daughter, it is His great pleasure to give you His Kingdom.

But, how do you become comfortable with being the best as a Christian woman when so many of us have been taught to hold back and that being humble means playing down our gifts, talents and expertise?

Here are a few tips to guide you in being the best in your business:

1. Clearly define and envision what your business would look like if you were the best?
2. Identify what is standing in the way of being your very best? What resources or support systems do you need?
3. Ask yourself, “Am I fearful of being the best and achieving the success I desire?” What fears are you dealing with, secretly thinking and carrying around?
4. Elevate your prayer life and ask the Lord to show you how to be the best, as He has called you to do. Ask Him to show you how to walk in the fullness of His power in your business. Ask Him what steps you need to take to truly be a representation of His best.
5. Be fully obedient to what He is instructing you to do even if you don’t have the full vision of the outcome.

I recently heard a great definition of humility, “to be all the Lord called you to be with no apology.” It is time to walk in your full humility and the natural result will be your very best. I hope this brief article helps you move into position to truly express the greatness the Lord has placed inside of you through your business.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Ericka D. Jackson, Evangelist, Author and Kingdom Trainer, coaches and guides ministers and Christian business owners in achieving fearless success. She is the founder of The Fearless Revolution^TM 2.0 Power Pack (http://www.thefearlessrevolution.com). You can get more information on her life’s work and receive your free videos series to help you move into your fearlessness at http://howtobefearlessnow.com. 

©2011 Ericka D. Jackson. All Rights Reserved.

Of course, I don’t want to make this sound too easy.  It does take work, commitment, persistence and time like any other business.  By following the ten tips below, your affiliate sales should increase and thereby increasing your monthly income.

1.  Personal Recommendation – You always want to try the product before you start promoting it so you can give it a personal recommendation.  A personal recommendation can be very powerful in persuading people the product is “real”.  This is especially true if you are already established online and have a good clean reputation.  If you are not well-known a personal recommendation will still carry a lot of weight.

2.  Quality Products – Be sure to only represent quality products that you would actually use yourself.  People might ask you if you do or would use the product yourself.  This is another reason for trying the product before you sell it or at least do extensive research on the product.

3.  Know the Product – This is another reason you need to do extensive research on the product.  People will ask you questions about the product and you need to know what you are selling.

4.  Know Your Target Market – What type of people come to your site/blog?  What are your readers’ needs and wants?  If you have a health and fitness blog, you probably won’t want to promote a dessert cookbook or movies because these things will not benefit your readers.  Be sure to match the products to your target market.

5.  Reliable Company – Be sure to also check out the company before you sign up with them.  Research any reviews, complaints, awards, etc. this company might have.  Contact other affiliates and ask how the company manages their affiliate program and payouts.

6. Product Updates – Keep abreast of all product updates so you can keep your readers and visitors updated as well.  Check out the company’s product info frequently. Always know the latest about the product you are representing!

7. Sales Material – Most companies will provide professionally written sales materials for their affiliates to use.  They will have ezine ads, solo ads, email signatures, graphics, etc.  Take advantage of these sales materials instead of trying to create your own.

8.  Be Selective – Find just a few quality products to promote rather than signing up for every affiliate program you can find.  Choose a few good products that complement your site and each other.  This will enable you to focus more on the products and promote them more effectively.

9.  Spread the Word – Don’t make the mistake of just slapping one of the company’s ads on your site and think the sales will start rolling in.  Promote them on your social networking sites.  Add a blurb in your email signature.  Post them on forums, groups, etc.  Add them to your article resource box.  Mention them to your mailing list on a regular basis.  You need to promote them heavily and consistently to make a good amount of sales.  Keep abreast of new and innovative marketing strategies.

10.  Test and Track – As with any online business you should test and track your marketing and sales strategies.  Find out what is working and what is not.  Concentrate more on what is bringing in sales to raise your income.

Affiliate marketing can be an effective way to make money online by itself and it can also be a supplement to your main business.  Unfortunately, many people will sign up with an affiliate program, paste an ad on their site and think that is all they have to do.  When I first started online, I too signed up for any program I could find and just threw up a bunch of ads on my site.  This is a common mistake that can be overcome.

Affiliate marketing will not work for you unless you make it work.  It is a business like any other and needs to be given the same attention and commitment!

©2011  Terri Seymour

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Don’t be one of the 95% of people who fail at their online business.  Terri Seymour can help you make money online.  Find out how to increase your traffic and sales with her popular “How to Build Your Online Business” ebook for FREE at:  ==> http://www.SeymourProducts.com.

There are so many different camps you can land in when it comes to celebrating Christmas.  Just with gift-giving…

• Some set an equal budget for each child.
• Others give gifts generously.
• Several give just three gifts because that’s what the wise men did.
• A few give no gifts at all.
• Others stick to the four gift rule: Something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read.
• Still some give one gift to charity for every gift they buy their kids.

It makes me wonder if there is a wrong way and a right way to approach giving gifts to your kids.  Are you spoiling your kids if they get too many… or is it a form of child-abuse if you don’t give enough?

How do you know?

With so many different ways to celebrate, do you ever feel like you have to “explain” your rationale as to which camp you subscribe?  Is there guilt attached to your decision?  What about pride?

Can you keep Jesus at the center and still give generously or hang lights?  Are you wrecking your kids if you don’t find time to serve in a soup kitchen?

Are you missing the boat if you don’t do an advent calendar?  Is one better than another?

Are you able to acknowledge Santa without criticism?  Or do others judge you because you choose to be honest about the man in the red suit?

Ugh.  All the talk of rights and wrongs drives me nuts.

Well for what it’s worth… I think it’s all based on what you decide to do for your family.

Sisters, what do you want to do?

We are intentional about keeping Jesus at the center of our Christmas celebration.  Our kids know why we celebrate this season.  We make sure to insert the Holy birth into our conversations whenever we can.

Sam and Sara know that this is no ordinary birth.

I bet your kids do, too.

But, we also really enjoy all this season has to offer by not getting caught up in a legalistic approach to celebrating it.

• We just started our advent calendar… 10 days late.
• Our kids are still excited about Santa’s arrival… at 9 and 10 years of age.
• There are a good number of gifts under the tree… with room for more.

It may not be how you choose to celebrate Christmas, but it’s perfect for my family.  And your festivities may not be the style for my family, but it works for yours.

My point is… free yourself from the expectations of others.

This time of year isn’t about which family does it bigger and better… or which does it with a more reverent countenance… or which celebrates with more gusto.

Nope.  This time of year is about remembering the manger.

So go ahead and enjoy your family, the festivities, and the feasts.  Take pleasure in the presents, the parties and the people.

But along the way – being intentional to keep the holy focus – make sure to celebrate the birth that changed the world… forever.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Carey Scott is an inspirational speaker and writer, honest about her walk with the Lord, stumbles, fumbles and all.  She loves to challenge women to be real and authentic. Through her blog she encourages women to stop living a mediocre, risk-free life and instead step onto the battlefield.  She is a weekly blogger on CWAHM and serves as the Wednesday host on the Moms Together Facebook community. Carey is also a member of the speaking and writing team for LeadHer.  She and her husband live in Colorado with their two kids.

Here are the most common excuses people use to sabotage their work-at-home dream.

1. “Everything online is a scam.” This is just not true. If everything you find is a scam, you’re looking for the wrong jobs in the wrong place. I post at least 60 to 70 jobs at WorkAtHomeSuccess.com weekly. I know Jill posts many here at CWAHM. There are thousands of legitimate work-at-home jobs that can be found right now. However, these jobs don’t involve licking envelopes, processing email or rebates, typing ads or payment processing. The easiest way to get scammed is to look for a fast, easy way to make a buck. Jobs require skills and experience, a professional resume, and often an interview.
2. “You may be able to work at home, Leslie, but I just can’t.” Is it ‘can’t’ or ‘won’t? Most elderly ladies can’t lift a car until their grandson is trapped underneath one. When truly motivated, people can accomplish just about anything. The truth is everyone is capable of far more than they give themselves credit for or are willing to even try. Succeeding at working at home is hard. It takes a great deal of work that often has no payoff for weeks even months. But the millions of regular people who have found success working at home are proof that it can be done if the desire and effort are big enough. If you REALLY want to work at home, you can. You just have to be willing to try and keep at it until you succeed.
3. “I don’t have any money.” Work-at-home jobs don’t cost anything. The only investment you may want to make is in accessing a quality telecommuting database and/or hiring someone to help you with your resume. But those are optional. When it comes to work-at-home jobs, time and effort are all you need.
4. “I don’t have any skills.” If you’ve ever worked in a job, inside or outside the home, you have skills. Further, some jobs don’t require job experience, but instead will take knowledge gained from hobbies or interests. Do you like to follow celebrities? Learn to blog and get hired as a celebrity blogger. Have you worked in retail? Get a job in customer service? Did you used to be an office worker? Become a virtual assistant.
5. “The jobs don’t pay enough.” While it’s true many work-at-home jobs don’t pay as much as traditional jobs, neither do you have to pay for many work-related expenses such as commuting. When I worked outside the home, 75 percent of my income paid work expenses. When I came home, I earned significantly less, but I had more money because I didn’t have as many expenses. Run the numbers to know for sure what you need to earn from home.
6. “Employers never respond to my applications.” Admittedly, this is the most difficult part of looking for a work-at-home job. I too have been discouraged by employers that don’t respond to resumes. But quitting isn’t the answer. Instead follow up and continue to apply to new job posts until you’re hired.

Finding a work-at-home job is hard enough without getting in your own way with excuses that aren’t true or can easily be overcome. Instead, make a commitment to search and apply for jobs on a regular basis. Submit a resume tailored to the job to improve your chances of getting notices. And don’t give up. Only those who persevere succeed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Leslie Truex is the author of The Work-At-Home Success Bible (Adams Media). She has been telecommuting and running home businesses for over 15 years and helping others to work at home in jobs or home businesses since 1998. Get work-at-home jobs and other resources with her free newsletter at http://www.workathomesuccess.com

“1 speaker + 1 Listener = an effective communication equation.”

In order for effective communication to take place, we need at least one listener. The most articulate person will have no success in communicating his thoughts if there isn’t at least one person who is truly listening.  Hearing isn’t listening.  If you have children, you’ll understand this.  Johnny hears you, but he doesn’t understand what you’ve asked him to do.  He may have given the appropriate response, but he wasn’t really listening.  You know this because he eventually comes downstairs with his half empty hamper instead of taking the garbage out.

Hearing is when the individual recognizes that sound has left your lips.  Listening is when he comprehends what you’ve said.  True communication is when he understands it the way you had intended.  Johnny not only takes the garbage out, but he does it with a happy heart because he knows you were asking respectfully though you had to yell up the stairs to get his attention because he was listening to the radio.

“Sometimes the most intelligent thing to say is…nothing.”

There are times when we are tempted to fill the peaceful sound of silence with chatter.  There are situations in which we feel compelled to give an answer though we have no idea what the question was.  There are statements that are better left unsaid.  These are the times that try men’s mouths and we should ask ourselves if the situation is better served by speaking up or standing down.  Remember that not every question requires an answer and there are times when the most articulate thing to say is “I don’t know.”

“When your audience is no longer listening, it’s always best to stop talking!”

How many times have we been guilty of overstaying our welcome in a conversation?  Have there been times when you where having a great discussion only to find yourself in an awkward situation where neither the speaker nor the listener agree?  You’ve both voiced your opinions and explained your positions but neither of you is currently willing to accept the other’s idea.  There is a line beyond which you cannot remain cordial.  In an effort to persuade and in the heat of a great debate, that line can be crossed.  It’s this line that can threaten any further amicable discussion.  It’s this line that can end a friendship.  There is a line beyond which discussion may easily turn to argument.  When that line is met, it’s best to agree to disagree for the time being.

“You will not persuade another by cutting off his argument. You will only stifle your understanding of how to answer him.”

It’s human nature to want to quell any dissenting opinion.  The need to be heard is quite strong which is why we have written the right of free speech into our Constitution.  But think a minute about the consequences of your right to bear words.  Hubert Humphrey said, “The right to free speech doesn’t automatically include the right to be taken seriously.”  I must add that the right to speak also doesn’t preclude the other’s right to disagree or take offense.  Once you have crossed the line of civility, your listener has the right to be offended.  Remember what the Lord tells us in Proverbs 18:19, “An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of the citadel.”

Often the right to free speech is trumped by the right to remain silent…or rather the choice!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  JoJo Tabares holds a degree in Speech Communication, but it is her humorous approach to communication skills which has made her a highly sought-after Christian speaker and writer.  Her articles appear in homeschool publications, such as Homeschool Enrichment Magazine and The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, which also endorses her Say What You Mean curricula.  You can also find JoJo on web sites such as Crosswalk.com and Dr.Laura.com.  For more information on communication FUNdamentals and Christian-based communication skills for the whole family, please visithttp://www.ArtofEloquence.com

Did you ever notice how little kids show appreciation?  My son comes to me several times a day and says things like “I love you!  You are the best mommy in the whole world!”  The conviction of his words and the look on his face as he utters them are what touch my heart!  That’s what true appreciation is.

Most of us teach our children to say thank you, but few of us really understand its power.  Showing appreciation is not only etiquette, but it is a responsibility especially during the holidays.

I was privileged to have been in the audience when Florence Littauer was speaking on “Silver Boxes”.  It’s what she calls her philosophy on appreciation and edification.  She quotes Ephesians 4:29.

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” 

She says that words are like a gift we give others that come in little silver boxes with bows on top.  This is how we should show proper appreciation.

Many of us remember to say thank you when we get a gift, but often forget to show others appreciation for the things they do for us on a daily basis. And just how much appreciation does our “Thank You” show?

“Gee thanks” isn’t much of a Thank You.  “Gee thanks” is what is interpreted when you say… “Thanks for the gift Aunt Millie!”  or even  “I love it!” Even if your voice is excited and your face lights up when you say it, it can be empty.  Why?  Because in order for Aunt Millie to feel appreciated, she has to know what exactly you appreciate: The thought behind it?  Money she spent?  Time it took?  Trouble she went to?  And what exactly did you like about the gift:  The features? The time it will save you?

A proper thank you is one in which you show as much time and trouble to give thanks as the person did in choosing your gift.  Consider this:  “Oh Aunt Millie!  This is so generous of you!  I can hardly believe it!  This is a beautiful sweater and just the perfect color to go with the dress I was going to wear for my interview!  Oh it feels so soft and I just love how it fits!”  How much more appreciated does Aunt Millie feel now?  Notice you haven’t even said the words “thank you”.  It isn’t the words you speak; it’s the message it conveys that is important.

And how often should you thank Aunt Millie for this sweater?  MORE THAN ONCE!  I make it a point to wear my gift when I go visit the giver, call them on the phone when I am using it again, mention how I used it the other day and what a pleasure it was that I had it!  NOW how appreciated does Aunt Millie feel?

What about all the thank yous that go unsaid to the people in our lives who do little things for us day after day?  How many of us thank our mothers for raising us or our fathers for working so hard all those years we were growing up-not just on Mother’s and Father’s Day and not just a card or gift.  How many of us have told our parents exactly what they did that we appreciate?  Details!  A Mother’s Day card once a year is an obligation.  A letter or conversation regaling them with the details of what you appreciated about them over the years is true appreciation!

Is appreciation limited to our family?  Many of us never thank our friends or associates for what they mean to us or do for us each day.  How many of us belong to online communities?  How many times have you emailed the owner of the list or site to thank them for all the behind the scenes work they do every day that allows you to participate, fellowship and learn?

Take your appreciation public.  How much more appreciated do you think Annie would feel if you posted a public message of appreciation for all her hard work behind the scenes at your favorite Yahoo group?:

“I want to thank Annie for all the wonderful articles she posts each week! I have really learned a lot and I have used many of these articles as homeschool lessons for my children.  Annie must work so hard to create all these fun activities and I want to thank her for donating her time and all the prizes and certificates she has given away over the years!  This group has been such a blessing to me and I have had so much fun as a member. Thanks Annie!”

A little thank you goes a long way! If Annie was feeling a little frustrated by the time the group takes to maintain, I bet she has renewed vitality after your post!  On the job, employers can get more out of their employees by showing them a little appreciation now and again.  You can create a closer relationship with your family and friends by showing them how much you appreciate what they do for you.

So this Christmas season, why don’t you give the gift of true appreciation. The most appreciated gift is appreciation.  It’s free to give and priceless to get!  Thank you for reading along with my thoughts today!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  JoJo Tabares holds a degree in Speech Communication.  Her Christian and humorous approach to communication skills has made her a sought after speaker.  JoJo’s articles have appeared in various homeschool magazines and websites such as Dr. Laura.com.  Her Say What You Mean curricula is endorsed by The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and her eBook, Say What You Mean When You’re in Business, has been used by direct sales leaders and small business owners alike.  For more information, please visit http://www.ArtofEloquence.com. 

The worst part about getting laid off – no one in my area was hiring for my skill set. So not only was I laid off, I had no solid job leads.

After I lost my job, I realized the time had come to do my own thing. I was already comfortable with the internet, so why not put it to good use and my own benefit? Once I became so frustrated that I knew I wasn’t going to find a great job opportunity, I decided to begin working from home.

A lot of people have the wrong perception of working from home. They think I’m lazy or don’t really have any “skills” to get a “real job.” They also think what I do is easy. I wanted to take a second to dispel those rumors. Working from home isn’t always easy – I mean it’s not like I just woke up one morning and fell on a pile of money. Lots of effort is required, but that’s the case with every job, if I’m not mistaken.

However, certain skill sets are better suited for working at home. For example, being a good blogger has definitely made my home job much easier to do. I have grown accustomed to seeing my writing have an instant impact, driving a lot of traffic and leads to companies across the country. Another great thing about my job is that while I’m learning on the fly, I can also apply what I’m learning on the fly. How many jobs out there allow you to learn something new and immediately put it into action?

The best benefit that I’ve found to working from home is the extra time I get to spend with my family. I now live within 15 miles of my parents, and my wife and I are expecting. Also, since I literally “write” my own paycheck, I don’t have to worry as much about the current state of the economy.

Working from home has been a win for my family and my career. It could be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Thanks for allowing me to share.

About the Author:
John Benson is a self-employed internet marketing consultant who decided on his current occupation after reading a top 10 work at home jobs article a few years back. Contact him at jbenson304@gmail.com.

1.  Sell Resell eBooks and Software – You can easily add a digital product store script to your existing blog and sell ebooks and software with resell rights.  Ebooks are very popular and the demand for them is increasing.   You can also sell videos, music and other downloadable files from your digital store.

2.  Write and Sell Your Own eBook – Write an ebook about your area of expertise and put it for sale on your site.  You can sell it outright, offer resell rights or recruit affiliates to sell it for you as well.  I did this with my first ebook and it worked out very well.

3.  Affiliate Products – Find quality products and services that offer a commission and sell them on your site.  Be sure they are relative to your site and if possible try the product out first so you can give a personal recommendation.  Personal recommendations can help increase your sales.  You can find affiliate products at AffiliateSeek, Clickbank, and AffiliateTips.

4.  Sell Advertising – Offer advertising space on your blog.  You can offer text ads, banner ads and even video and audio ads.   Charge monthly and annual fees to give your customers a better value.

5.  Dropship Sales – Dropship means you can sell products without having to ship them or stock them.  You find a company that offers dropshipping, sign up with them and start selling their products on your blog.  Anytime you get an order, you send it to the main company and they ship the product out to your customer.  The customer will think the product came from your store and you get a portion of the profits.   You make money simply by taking orders and the dropship company does the rest.   Dropship companies will usually require a membership fee, either monthly or annually.

6.  Google Adsense – This is not my favorite but it does work well for some people.   What this entails is placing numerous ads on your site, chosen by Google.   Anytime these ads are clicked on, you will get paid a portion of what the advertiser has paid Google.   Google will choose ads that are relevant to your site’s contents.  So, what this means is that if you sell jewelry Google will place ads on your site to other people who sell jewelry and related products.  So, in essence you are sending people to your competitor’s sites.  Although I do not agree with this, many people claim to make a good chunk of change each month using Google Adsense!

7.  Donation Button – You see this more and more often these days.  People offer a lot of free resources and content on their sire and ask for donations from the people who utilize this information.  You can get the buttons directly from Paypal and place them on your site.  To do this, you must provide quality content and value to your visitors so they feel a donation would be appropriate.

8.  Classes and Workshops – Organize some informative classes and workshops to teach your visitors how to “whatever”.   Sell space to attend these events.  Offer a variety of classes such as a week-long class, month long, etc.   You could also produce some effective webinars.   You can also recruit affiliates for these services as well.

9.  Exclusive Access – Offer private content, forums, classes, etc. to members only.  Charge a monthly or annual fee for this membership.  People will pay for valuable information they can’t seem to find anywhere else.

10.  Sponsored Reviews – Companies like Blogvertiser will connect you with advertisers who will pay you to write reviews about their products and services and place them on your site.  You will have the option of accepting or declining any deals the advertisers offer.   Other sites that offer this service are PayPerPost, SponsoredReviews and ReviewMe.

The methods above might not make you rich but they can earn you a good income or add to your existing income.  Selling ebooks and software has been very profitable for me and affiliate products, selling advertising space and dropshipping has also worked for me in the past.  Some of these methods might not be for you but it could be worth your while to check them out.  I wish you much success in whatever path you choose.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Don’t be one of the 95% of people who fail at their online business.  Terri Seymour can help you make money online.  Find out how to increase your traffic and sales with her popular “How to Build Your Online Business” ebook for FREE at:  ==> http://www.SeymourProducts.com

Mischel published a study on children at the preschool on the Stanford University campus. He sat them down with a marshmallow. They were told that the research assistant had to leave for a few minutes (approximately 20 minutes) but if they did not eat the marshmallow during that time they would be rewarded with another marshmallow. Some of the children ate the marshmallow, but some did not and forced themselves to wait by thinking of other distractions, talking to themselves, playing games with their hands or trying to fall asleep. He then followed all of the children for a long period of time afterwards.

When evaluated later as teenagers, those children who resisted eating the marshmallow and exhibited delayed gratification were:
1. Still much better able to wait for rewards
2. Higher achievers and self-assertive and competent
3. Better socially adjusted and emotionally adjusted
4. Got into much less trouble
5. Happier and better able to cope with the frustrations of life
6. Less likely to go to pieces under stress
7. Performed much better academically and scored higher on their SAT exams

Those children who were the quickest to grab the marshmallows (one-third of all the children) scored an average 524 on the verbal section and 528 on the mathematics section of the SAT for a total of 1052. The third of the children who waited the longest scored 610 on the verbal section and 652 on the mathematics section for a total of 1262.

When evaluated later in life, the third of the children who were the quickest to grab the marshmallow were found to:
1. Shy away from social contacts
2. Be stubborn and indecisive
3. Be easily upset by frustrations
4. Think of themselves as bad or unworthy
5. Prone to jealousy and envy
6. Overreact with a short temper leading to fights

Mischel’s experiment dramatically illustrates the differences in outcome in life for children that have internal structure and have learned how to delay gratification. These important character traits make the difference between having a successful, satisfying life or not.

Additionally, two studies from universities in Pennsylvania show that self-discipline, the ability to self-regulate, are more important than I.Q. or intelligence for early academic success for 3 to 5 years old and for eighth graders.

Psychologist Clancy Blair from Pennsylvania State University studied 3 – 5 year-old preschoolers and discovered that the best predictor of performance in math and reading in kindergarten was the child’s capacity for self-control.
A child’s ability to monitor their thinking and behavior develops rapidly during preschool. Activities at school and at home that decrease impulsiveness and instant gratification and promote attention and awareness of one’s own and other’s thoughts and feelings (empathy) are needed. It is also important to realize that as children get older, self-control is still more important than I.Q.

Psychologists Angela Duckworth at the University of Pennsylvania and Martin Seligman evaluated 300 eighth graders. They gave the students, their teachers and their parents a questionnaire about the student’s ability to control impulses and follow rules. They also gave the children a questionnaire and behavior test to assess their willingness to delay gratification. Self-control was a stronger predictor of final grades, school attendance and work habits than IQ was.
Also the higher the level of self-control the students exhibited, the better the outcomes. Following are some tips to help teach your children more self-control: Activities for preschoolers that promote self-control involve taking turns, paying attention for sustained periods of time and giving incentives for thoughtful responses.

Use “time-outs” for misbehavior. A “time-out” slows everything down, giving your infant or toddler time to regulate themselves through self-talk before acting on emotion or irrationally. A reasonable period of time is a minute for every year of age. Most importantly, talk to your child after the time out. Discuss what was going on, what the child was feeling and why the misbehavior happened.

The more you talk to your child the sooner he will learn to talk and the more extensive his vocabulary will be. Boys lag behind girls in verbal skills and self-talking, which is important for impulse control. Problems with self-control, impulsive behavior and attention deficit are much more common in boys.

You can see how easy it can be to teach your children how to excel.

For additional assistance, check out Fetus to Fifth Grade for all your pregnancy and parenting advice needs.

About the author: Fetus to Fifth Grade http://tinyurl.com/4tk6rgu takes you from pregnancy to those critical first few years. The author, Dr. Schapira is an internationally recognized physician and researcher and has been featured in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, CNN, NBC Nightly News and The Today Show.

Many entrepreneurs do not know how to find effective methods of marketing so they frequent farmers markets or trade shows and approach their friends and families to purchase their products. As attending these venues can become costly in money and time, finding another way to promote their operation becomes a top priority.

Traditional methods of advertising can also be costly and limits the area that the message is reaching. So how can they get this information out to their target markets? Working with a Virtual Assistant is a cost effective method to put successful marketing in place. Here’s how:

1. A virtual assistant will work with the client to learn about their business, why they started it, how long they have been established, and what products or services they have to offer. Then the virtual assistant will write an article about this business and distribute it to the appropriate outlets.
2. A virtual assistant will help businesses with their marketing campaigns. They will work to put an effective article together to draw in the target market’s attention to the products and services that are being offered. The virtual assistant will then submit this on line so a larger audience will be able to find it.
3. When a new product comes on line or changes come into effect, articles can be a great way to get the public’s interest. By using key words and product specific phrases, finding out about the line of items will be easy when people look for them on the internet.
4. Having a virtual assistant write articles about a business will help to establish the owner as an expert in their field. By submitting these on a regular basis, clients will look for these tips, especially if they are useful and applicable.
5. A virtual assistant could also help write content for the client if they want to place a combination ad and article in their local newspaper. This would provide coverage for a specific area so they could target the market within that distribution area.
6. A virtual assistant can help build an Adwords campaign for the home based business that will be effective without costing an exorbitant amount. This will help to draw clients to their web sites and help to promote their business.
7. Using press releases about upcoming events or the introduction of a new product can also be a very useful method of marketing that a virtual assistant will help the business put in place. These can be alternated with articles so clients will look for information that will be helpful to them and possibly result in sales for the business.
8. The client’s contact information will be included in the press release and article’s bio so customers who are interested in the product line can easily find the business.
9. Once the article has been put on line, it will always be available for future reference.

Working with a publicity virtual assistant to plan and implement this kind of marketing campaign is very easy. A quick search on the internet will produce listings of virtual assistants who are experienced in this type of work. Call one today and get started.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Carol Eigner is a Publicity Virtual Assistant and president of CEVA Services. She has successfully written and distributed press releases and articles. For more information, contact her atcarol@cevaservices.ca.

Many entrepreneurs do not know how to find effective methods of marketing so they frequent farmers markets or trade shows and approach their friends and families to purchase their products. As attending these venues can become costly in money and time, finding another way to promote their operation becomes a top priority.

Traditional methods of advertising can also be costly and limits the area that the message is reaching. So how can they get this information out to their target markets? Working with a Virtual Assistant is a cost effective method to put successful marketing in place. Here’s how:

1. A virtual assistant will work with the client to learn about their business, why they started it, how long they have been established, and what products or services they have to offer. Then the virtual assistant will write an article about this business and distribute it to the appropriate outlets.
2. A virtual assistant will help businesses with their marketing campaigns. They will work to put an effective article together to draw in the target market’s attention to the products and services that are being offered. The virtual assistant will then submit this on line so a larger audience will be able to find it.
3. When a new product comes on line or changes come into effect, articles can be a great way to get the public’s interest. By using key words and product specific phrases, finding out about the line of items will be easy when people look for them on the internet.
4. Having a virtual assistant write articles about a business will help to establish the owner as an expert in their field. By submitting these on a regular basis, clients will look for these tips, especially if they are useful and applicable.
5. A virtual assistant could also help write content for the client if they want to place a combination ad and article in their local newspaper. This would provide coverage for a specific area so they could target the market within that distribution area.
6. A virtual assistant can help build an Adwords campaign for the home based business that will be effective without costing an exorbitant amount. This will help to draw clients to their web sites and help to promote their business.
7. Using press releases about upcoming events or the introduction of a new product can also be a very useful method of marketing that a virtual assistant will help the business put in place. These can be alternated with articles so clients will look for information that will be helpful to them and possibly result in sales for the business.
8. The client’s contact information will be included in the press release and article’s bio so customers who are interested in the product line can easily find the business.
9. Once the article has been put on line, it will always be available for future reference.

Working with a publicity virtual assistant to plan and implement this kind of marketing campaign is very easy. A quick search on the internet will produce listings of virtual assistants who are experienced in this type of work. Call one today and get started.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Carol Eigner is a Publicity Virtual Assistant and president of CEVA Services. She has successfully written and distributed press releases and articles. For more information, contact her at carol@cevaservices.ca.

Mischel published a study on children at the preschool on the Stanford University campus. He sat them down with a marshmallow. They were told that the research assistant had to leave for a few minutes (approximately 20 minutes) but if they did not eat the marshmallow during that time they would be rewarded with another marshmallow. Some of the children ate the marshmallow, but some did not and forced themselves to wait by thinking of other distractions, talking to themselves, playing games with their hands or trying to fall asleep. He then followed all of the children for a long period of time afterwards.

When evaluated later as teenagers, those children who resisted eating the marshmallow and exhibited delayed gratification were:

1. Still much better able to wait for rewards
2. Higher achievers and self-assertive and competent
3. Better socially adjusted and emotionally adjusted
4. Got into much less trouble
5. Happier and better able to cope with the frustrations of life
6. Less likely to go to pieces under stress
7. Performed much better academically and scored higher on their SAT exams

Those children who were the quickest to grab the marshmallows (one-third of all the children) scored an average 524 on the verbal section and 528 on the mathematics section of the SAT for a total of 1052. The third of the children who waited the longest scored 610 on the verbal section and 652 on the mathematics section for a total of 1262.

When evaluated later in life, the third of the children who were the quickest to grab the marshmallow were found to:

1. Shy away from social contacts
2. Be stubborn and indecisive
3. Be easily upset by frustrations
4. Think of themselves as  bad or unworthy
5. Prone to jealousy and envy
6. Overreact with a short temper leading to fights

Mischel’s experiment dramatically illustrates the differences in outcome in life for children that have internal structure and have learned how to delay gratification. These important character traits make the difference between having a successful, satisfying life or not.

Additionally, two studies from universities in Pennsylvania show that self-discipline, the ability to self-regulate, are more important than I.Q. or intelligence for early academic success for 3 to 5 years old and for eighth graders.

Psychologist Clancy Blair from Pennsylvania State University studied 3 – 5 year-old preschoolers and discovered that the best predictor of performance in math and reading in kindergarten was the child’s capacity for self-control.

A child’s ability to monitor their thinking and behavior develops rapidly during preschool. Activities at school and at home that decrease impulsiveness and instant gratification and promote attention and awareness of one’s own and other’s thoughts and feelings (empathy) are needed. It is also important to realize that as children get older, self-control is still more important than I.Q.

Psychologists Angela Duckworth at the University of Pennsylvania and Martin Seligman evaluated 300 eighth graders. They gave the students, their teachers and their parents a questionnaire about the student’s ability to control impulses and follow rules.

Use “time-outs” for misbehavior. A “time-out” slows everything down, giving your infant or toddler time to regulate themselves through self-talk before acting on emotion or irrationally. A reasonable period of time is a minute for every year of age. Most importantly, talk to your child after the time out. Discuss what was going on, what the child was feeling and why the misbehavior happened.y also gave the children a questionnaire and behavior test to assess their willingness to delay gratification. Self-control was a stronger predictor of final grades, school attendance and work habits than IQ was.

Also the higher the level of self-control the students exhibited, the better the outcomes. Following are some tips to help teach your children more self-control: Activities for preschoolers that promote self-control involve taking turns, paying attention for sustained periods of time and giving incentives for thoughtful responses.

You can see how easy it can be to teach your children how to excel.The more you talk to your child the sooner he will learn to talk and the more extensive his vocabulary will be. Boys lag behind girls in verbal skills and self-talking, which is important for impulse control. Problems with self-control, impulsive behavior and attention deficit are much more common in boys.

For additional assistance, check out Fetus to Fifth Grade for all your pregnancy and parenting advice needs.

About the author: Fetus to Fifth Grade takes you from pregnancy to those critical first few years. The author, Dr. Schapira, is an internationally recognized physician and researcher and has been featured in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, CNN, NBC Nightly News and The Today Show
.

Now what?

Now it’s time to build your business into a brand.

What’s Your USP?
Choose a memorable name or use your own name as a brand, whatever appeals to you the most. Design an image around that name and what’s called your Unique Selling Proposition or USP. What is a USP? It is the products or services that distinguishes your company from another one. It’s the answer to the question, what do you uniquely have to offer?

Who’s Your Target Audience?
Choosing a target market is very important in this process. Whom are you in business for? Don’t say everyone! If you aim at nothing, you will hit at nothing. Have a laser focus on your audience and your brand will be more effective and you will have success. Whom do you have an affinity for? Look around you. What are your spheres of influence? For me, after becoming a homeschooling mother, I realized what a huge, growing niche market I had stumbled across. And naturally, I understand them because I am one and I regularly talk with fellow homeschooling mothers. You need to ask questions regarding your target market. What is their pain? What is their greatest fear? What do they desire? Who influences them? When you know the answer to these questions, you can weave that with your unique passions, talents, gifts, skills, and experience. Then you truly have something unique to offer!

Where Will Your Vision Take You?
So you have a vision, you have a target market, and you have a USP. What image represents that in the best, most simple way? Get a vision for your logo, sketch it out, play with it. Use software like Adobe Photoshop. Keep in mind, when designing a logo, what change you want to effect with it. What do you want to communicate? Remember you have only a few seconds and first impressions are everything. You also want to make sure your image perception meets with reality. Do you claim to be the best widget maker? Then BE the best widget maker! If there is a gap between your business image and the quality of products or services, your brand will suffer and your profits will decrease dramatically!

Whether you decide to be an associate for a network marketer or promote your artwork or crafts, you need to have a brand. If you are an associate or direct seller, you may change companies in the future or that company you have chosen may go bankrupt. By building a brand you are building a hedge against the future.

You can take your brand wherever you go! Branding yourself is a fun and exciting process, requiring thorough analysis and strategic implementation. I wish you joy in this journey as you discover your unique identity!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dana Susan Beasley, publisher and principal of AngelArts, helps fellow mompreneurs build their authentic brand identity through her online courses and mentoring. You can find her free video course on http://www.makeyourbrandsizzle.com

The turnover rates are confirmed by statistics as half of marriage commitments end in divorce, one third of volunteers do not return after their first year of service, and Americans hop from job to job with an average of 11 different occupations by the time they are 44 years old. While some of these commitments (such as marriage) reflect moral bearings and others freedom of choice, they all point to a common thread of dissatisfaction.
The research is evident, but what are the underlying causes of this widespread discontentment driving people away from their commitments? Why are pastors, professionals, and ministry volunteers experiencing burn-out? And what can we do differently to prevent this?
In his bestselling book, The 5 Love Languages, Dr. Gary Chapman proposed that the reason many marriages suffer is because husbands and wives do not understand each other’s language of personal communication. Once they identified and understood their “love language,” many couples have found renewed communication and intimacy in their marriage. Dr. Chapman’s observations were apparently accurate, as over 6 million copies (in English) were sold.
But in the workplace, languages of communication take a different form. In my experience of over 20 years in business consulting, one of the top reasons I have observed contributing to the “revolving door syndrome” is the lack of effectively communicated appreciation. In fact, according to the US Department of Labor, 64% of Americans who leave their jobs state lack of appreciation as the reason for stepping down. Just as love is the foundation of a strong marriage, effectively communicated appreciation is the bedrock of a great organization in work and ministry contexts.

While the languages of personal communication share similarities in the home and the workplace, their application and expression is dramatically different in personal and professional relationships. And to ensure that the message is not lost in translation, it is essential to understand the distinctions between different languages in their different contexts.

Hierarchy of Positions
A relationship between a supervisor and assistant, employer and employee, or two team members at different responsibility levels clearly has different relational dynamics than a relationship between spouses, family members, or friends. This hierarchy of positions introduces a power dynamic in work-based relationships, changing the whole context in which communication occurs.

Expectations and Boundaries
Work-based relationships are typically more formal than personal relationships, and the social boundaries of appropriate topics of discussion, styles of communication, social settings and physical proximity are more narrowly defined than in relationships with family and friends.

Appropriate Physical Touch
For the reasons stated above, physical touch is less important and plays a dramatically different role in the workplace than in personal relationships. Physical touch is the lowest language of appreciation for most people in the workplace, since there are clear boundaries in the work environment and for some employees even appropriate touch is not a desired mode of communication. But spontaneous, celebratory displays (high five’s, fist bumps, a pat on the back) are quite common between coworkers and are an important part of positive work-based relationships.

Quality Time
While quality time in personal relationships is primarily expressed through focused attention, quality time that expresses appreciation in the workplace can take on different forms. Within a professional context, this may include hanging out together as colleagues, working on tasks together collegially, or shared experiences that deepen team relationships.

Acts of Service
When demonstrating appreciation through acts of service in the workplace, there are important conditions to meet for the act to be valued by the recipient. The employee should first be asked if he or she wants assistance, and then the service should be completed in the way the recipient wants it done. The coworker lending a hand should define how much time he or she has to offer, and should avoid repeatedly rescuing a colleague who is underperforming so that the act of service is viewed positively by all.

Verbal Praise
As a love language, words of affirmation are usually a private exchange between two individuals, but in professional relationships, words of affirmation may also be communicated in group contexts. Public, verbalized appreciation of employees in a team meeting, in front of customers, or at an awards ceremony, is often an effective way of valuing employees for their work. Written communication through email and texting is also used significantly in work-based relationships.

Tangible Gifts
In personal relationships, gifts tend to be tangible objects, often given in celebration of a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary. For those who value tangible gifts as their primary love language, the uniqueness, sentimental character, and price or value of the gift are often significant factors.

Tangible gifts in the workplace are less about the gift itself and more about the thought behind it—that the giver knows what is valued by the recipient or what hobbies or special interests they have. These gifts are also more commonly related to experiences—movie tickets, gift certificates for restaurants, or shopping gift cards. Additionally, one of the most common expressions of gift-giving in the workplace is through food—bringing bagels or donuts to share at the office, buying pizza for lunch, bringing in a homemade dessert, or picking up a coworker’s favorite coffee drink.

An Individualized Approach
Each person has their own preferred language of appreciation within the workplace. And within each language, there are specific actions that are valued more or less by that individual. The good news is that all of these actions of appreciation are either completely free or involve only a nominal cost. They key is to be able to use the right action with the right person, at the right time, and with a genuine spirit of appreciation.

When actions of appreciation hit the target, team members are effectively encouraged and the team is solidified and strengthened as a whole. Appreciation that is effectively communicated transforms the workplace, creating an environment in which employees and ministry workers can thrive and will look forward to longevity with a company, instead of looking for the door.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Paul White, Ph.D., co-author of 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace. Dr. White is a psychologist, author, speaker, and consultant who makes work relationships work. For the past 20 years, he’s improved numerous businesses, wealthy family estates, and non-profit organizations. Dr. White received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Georgia State University. He has been married for over 30 years and is the father of four adult children. For more information, visit: www.DrPaulWhite.com.

]]> http://cwahd.com/wordpress/2011/10/19/putting-appreciation-to-work/feed/ 0 http://cwahd.com/wordpress/2011/10/18/time-%e2%80%93-a-challenge-for-every-busy-parent/ http://cwahd.com/wordpress/2011/10/18/time-%e2%80%93-a-challenge-for-every-busy-parent/#comments Tue, 18 Oct 2011 12:00:52 +0000 Jonathan Booth http://cwahd.com/wordpress/?p=3059 Two dates in our planner are certain.  The day we are born and the day we die!  In between we receive a gift which doesn’t depend on our wealth, our family background, what neighborhood we live in or any other personal circumstance.  The gift we are all given is “TIME”.   Time is finite.  None of your friends has more or less than you do.  In fact time is the greatest equal opportunity all of us have.  Do you know anyone who has a 25 hour day?  “I wish” I hear you saying.  Wouldn’t you as a busy parent love to have an extra hour a day?  Well you can, if you take time to think.

What do I mean by think?  If you want to be different from the crowd then thinking is the way to go.  I guarantee you that if once per day you think for 15 minutes about how you want to construct you day your will find that your planned day will be at least an hour more productive than your unplanned one is now.

Maybe another day I will tell you some of the things that you can do – once a week, once a month and once a year to be more productive than you are now. However for now, let’s concentrate on that wonderful gift called a day!

What does a day need to consist of for you – of course the answer to that question will be different for every person but let me share some common denominators that you might include in your day.

We’ve said the first thing to do in each day is to plan.  How?  Well you might start by listing the appointments you already have planned.  This will give you a framework for the day.

Secondly, you want to add the things that you do every day to contribute to your overall health.  For example this might mean planning 30 minutes of exercise, 5 minutes of stretching and 30 sit ups!  The number of things you can do on a regular basis to be healthy is almost unlimited.  You might consider what you do in the following four areas to give you a framework.

Physical – your exercise program and activity.

Emotional – your relationships and your “me” time for re-creation (Remember the God of creation wants us to “Re-create” throughout our lives)

Mental – every day we have the opportunity to be committed to lifelong learning – what we read and listen too matters.  If we fill our minds with wholesome, life building rather than life sapping material we will be stronger today than yesterday.

Lastly, spiritual – we build spiritual muscle as we spiritually exercise regularly.  These 4 aspects of life will really help us to live a balanced life.

Having scheduled our time and planned to exercise physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually the next step is to ask ourselves what are my priorities for today?  This task will be much easier if you have a framework for deciding what my priorities are and we will consider this another time but for now just list what it is you feel you have to get done and put a star by the six most important ones to achieve.  (That’s how I got this blog written today – it was one of my highest priorities and so I planned time to do it!)  When you have the six things I must do today rank them #1 to #6.

Finally plan your “six things most important things” into your day beginning with #1.    Now your day is planned and I promise you that if you do this each day it will seem as if you have just gained another hour in each of your days and now, you do have a “25 hour day”!    Take this daily plan out for a spin – do it for 30 days in a row and your life will be changed I promise you!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jonathan Booth is the National Coach of the School of Entrepreneurship.  He is formerly the CEO of CARE for the Family in the UK, a sister organization to Focus on the Family.  Jonathan has led three Christian organizations and worked in over 50 countries.  He lives in Oregon with his wife, Karleen and an Aussie exchange student plus two dogs and has children and grandchildren in Indiana and London.

I sensed a growing controversy between my wife and myself. Its genesis came about because of some silly mix-up, I assure you. Usually, mix-ups come about because of some misunderstanding and boy, do I sure miss my understanding. I have misplaced mine for so long I honestly cannot remember when I had it last

If my memory serves me, and it has not to date, the last time I had a glimpse of my understanding, I was standing at some altar repeating the words, “I do.” After that, life has been a glorious blur.

The faux pas between us simply was a matter of attitude. My better half took the high road and I, per usual, took the low road. The reason I take the low road is simply that when I fall, and falling for me is inevitable, I do not have far to plummet.

Regrettably, this past week we experienced a clash of attitudes.

I can sum up my attitude in life quite nicely: Never do today what can be put off until tomorrow. Who knows? I may forget the whole thing by then, something I am renowned for around the parsonage, if you know what I mean.

On the other hand, my life’s companion firmly believes in doing things ahead of time. For instance, by the end of August all her Christmas shopping is finished, wrapped and stored in the garage waiting for the Christmas tree.

She has a wonderful knack for planning. What I want to know is how does she know if I am going to be naughty or nice?

Usually, I give in to my better half. After all, that is what a great marriage is all about; give and take. As a dutiful husband, I take everything she gives me.

This time, however, an important principle was at stake. Some things in life are worth fighting for and this represented one of those times.

For years, I have suffered from a condition known as Afternoon Siesta Syndrome. Each afternoon I stretch out for an hour of rest. In that hour, I meditate on some of the more important issues of life.

I cannot tell you how many significant problems I have resolved during my daily afternoon forty winks. I say I can’t tell you not because I don’t want to, but when aroused from my snooze I can’t remember the solution.

All I know is that somewhere in the recesses of my mind are wonderful resolutions to some of the most intricate problems facing our world today. In this regard, I do not know how often my wife has said to me, “You need to see a psychiatrist.”

This leads me to the subject of our difference this past week. I am a firm believer in the “Art of Casual Loafing.”

Loafing gets such a bad rap because so many amateurs try their hand at it. Let me say right here that loafing is definitely not for the inexperienced. A level of skill and expertise that only comes from diligent practice.

Personally, I have invested over 50 years in the Art of Casual Loafing, which qualifies me as some sort of an expert on the subject. I am a proud, card-carrying member of the ACL union. I could have been elected president but we have not got around to elections yet. Many, and when I say many, I am especially including my companion, take loafing as something that comes rather easy.

Oh, quite contraire, Mon Frére. Nothing could be further from the truth.

My spouse thinks loafing is a tragic waste of time. She thinks things need doing in a timely fashion, like “right now.”

The garbage must be taken out “right now.”

The backyard needs mowing “right now.”

The groceries in the back of the car need brought in “right now.”

A person can take this “right now” business too far, if you ask me. I like to take things a little more casual than that.

This “right now” hang-up can create some serious stress in relationships; especially between hers and mine.

“There’s no time like the present,” my wife often tells me with a look in her eye defying me not to do what she just requested. To her,”right now” is very important.

When I want to resolve a difficulty, I resort to the Bible. This was no exception.

Much to my amazement, the word “now” occurs in the Bible 1,356 times, which is rather impressive. I never thought of it before.

What I discovered startled me. I had to admit that in certain things my dear wife is correct. Some things must be done right now.

Two Bible verses emphasize the importance of right now.

In the book of Isaiah,

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18 KJV).

Then, in the New Testament

“… behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2 KJV).

“Right now” is the best time to address your relationship with Jesus Christ.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: The Rev. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship, PO Box 831313, Ocala, FL 34483. He lives with his wife, Martha, in Silver Springs Shores. Call him at 352-687-4240 or e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net. The church web site is www.whatafellowship.com.

It was then I was struck with an awful thought. I am now a child of this contemporary technological world. I never thought I would succumb to this sort of thing. But here I am; I’m not the man I used to be, and I’m not even sure I’m the man I want to be.

On my way home, I thought about how far I have come in this modern world. Then, for some reason I thought of my old grandfather. He died in 1974 and every once in a while I think about him. This was one of those times.

What came to my mind this particular time was when my grandmother got a new contraption for their home. Grandfather was not enthused about some of these modern advances.

My grandfather allowed grandmother to get electricity in the house, but when it came to indoor plumbing he was dead set against it. He had used the old outhouse in the back as far as he could remember. His father had used it before him. As far as grandfather was concerned, he was going to use that outhouse until he died. He did not need any of this newfangled indoor plumbing. And that was that.

My grandmother said to him at the time, “Pap, is that your last word on the subject?”

“It sure is,” my grandfather responded.

Grandmother looked at him and said, “Great, the plumber is coming tomorrow and I won’t have to put up with any more of your guff.”

The next morning, right on grandmother’s schedule, the plumber came and fitted the house with indoor plumbing. Just to be spiteful, my grandfather never used the indoor plumbing. He showed grandmother that he was boss in some certain regard, and used the outhouse for the rest of his life.

Then the time came when the telephone line went down the valley where grandmother and grandfather lived. Knowing the hard time grandfather gave her with the indoor plumbing, she decided not to tell him about the installation of the telephone. She knew he would disapprove, so why ask.

Grandfather came home that night, as usual, and sat down to a very nice supper. So far, he had not noticed the addition in the living room. Grandmother, the diplomat that she was, did not bother to point it out to him.

Grandfather, as was his custom, settled down to read the evening newspaper in the living room completely unaware of the change that had come to this sanctuary of his.

Grandmother was in the kitchen busy cleaning off the table, washing the dishes and getting her kitchen back into shape before retiring to the living room for an evening of relaxation.

Suddenly, a ringing noise exploded in the living room. Grandfather, not knowing what had happened, jumped out of his chair and exited the living room faster than he had ever done so before.

In the kitchen, grandmother had been so busy with her work she forgot about this new contraption. She too was scared.

The ringing continued without stopping. Grandfather was beside himself and considered getting his shotgun not knowing who or what had invaded his living room.

Then it dawned on grandmother. “Oh,” she said with a sigh of relief. “That’s the telephone ringing.”

“The what?”

“Telephone.”

“Who’s Phone, and what the world do you want to tell him?”

“No,” grandmother said and ran into the living room to answer the phone. “It’s the telephone ringing.”

By this time, she had got to the telephone and had answered it.

My grandfather stared at her as she talked into the telephone receiver.

“Woman,” he said with a great deal of alarm, “what in the world is wrong with you?”

Grandmother ignored him and continued talking on the telephone.

Now grandfather was worried. Watching his wife talk to someone who was not there and even at times laughing when there wasn’t anything funny, caused him alarm.

Finally, out of sheer desperation, he went over, took the contraption out of her hand and taking her by the arm and, “Now, dear. There’s nothing to worry about. Just come over and sit down here in your chair and everything will be all right.”

“But I’m talking to…”

“I know, I know. But you see, dear, there’s nobody there. You’re just having one of your spells.”

Grandfather never came to terms with grandmother’s newfangled contraption. To my knowledge, he never used it, never spoke to anybody on it, never listened to anybody talking to him on it. As far as he was concerned, it was one of grandmother’s hallucinations.

It has been a long time since I thought about grandmother’s telephone. On my way home from my luncheon meeting I thought about all the inventions that have come into our world. I thought of what the Bible said,

“Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions” (Ecclesiastes 7:29 KJV).

We seem to be quick on our inventions, but rather slow on connecting with God. With all our inventions, are we any better off? Instead of seeking inventions, we would be better served in seeking God.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: The Rev. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship, PO Box 831313, Ocala, FL 34483. He lives with his wife, Martha, in Silver Springs Shores. Call him at 352-687-4240 or e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net. The church web site is www.whatafellowship.com.

The Chinese have an expression – the journey of a 1,000 miles begins with the first step and you can be sure that in parenthood that first step is taken when your little one arrives on time, early or maybe late (that might give you a hint of future behavior – Being Late!)  is a significant step.  For most parents, particularly new ones, it ushers in several decades of worry!  We worry what they are eating, what they are not eating.  Who they are hanging around with (even when they are three years old!)  We worry about their grades, there boy or girl friends, there hairstyles and everything else under the sun.

However there is one thing that is exceedingly helpful which is to understand that you are not alone!  It is always good to know that what you are going through right now is a shared experience and very common.  I remember the first time I looked out from a stage and saw a sea of parents before me.  I began with confessions of a failed parent.  You see,  we are helped more by others weakness than by there strengths.  When you whisper to a close friend that you are worried about little Johnny and they reply that they are worried about their little one too it feels so good to hear “me too”.

I love the fact that the bible is so brutally honest about its heroes.  Right from early times bible characters had trouble with their children.  (Not to mention some children who were having trouble with their parents!)

“Fear not, for I am with you” is a familiar phrase to many of us but it is that “with you” experience that is so very powerful.  A man was severely wounded in the Gulf War and lost both is legs.  His friends would visit and say they understood but it seemed hollow to him and he lay there in that hospital bed believing his life was over – until – another soldier came into his hospital room on crutches with no legs and said “I understand” and he did,  That fine soldier made a new start for himself as he drew on the strength, courage and understanding of someone who really did understand him.

So if you are worried about something going on in your child’s life right now remember you are not alone.  Worry is the normal experience of every parent.  Just pace yourself though – remember this parenting race is a marathon not a sprint!

Maybe today you will speak a God given word of encouragement to another worried parent and it won’t be your great parenting skills which will bless them but your confession of a troubled moment that will let them know that they too, like you, are not alone. It will set them, and you, free!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jonathan Booth is the National Coach of the School of Entrepreneurship.  He is formerly the CEO of CARE for the Family in the UK, a sister organization to Focus on the Family.  Jonathan has led three Christian organizations and worked in over 50 countries.  He lives in Oregon with his wife, Karleen and an Aussie exchange student plus two dogs and has children and grandchildren in Indiana and London.

Now I am not saying we are perfect parents.  Not a chance.  You see, we have our own parenting areas that need attention.  Yelling, however, just isn’t one of them.

When my kids were much younger, I remember one time in particular when I did scream at them.  It wasn’t a little scream.  I didn’t just merely raise my voice.

I… screamed.

Believe me, it wasn’t my finest mommy moment.

We were running late for preschool and I was desperately trying to make up time.  I’m usually a very punctual person, so tardiness sends me into a tizzy.  My kids, however, were not on the same timetable.  (Are they ever?)

Well when I lost it, one of my kids crawled under the kitchen table in fear and the other one broke into tears and ran into their room.

Now running farther behind schedule, my anger intensified and I began to stomp around the house slamming doors and sighing loud enough for the neighbors to hear.

Really?

Unbelievable.

As we finally pulled out of the driveway, the tension in the car was thick.  There was no conversation.  No one was laughing.  There weren’t any joy-filled voices rising up from the back seat.

I was beginning to feel like momma-zilla.

The Holy Spirit gently whispered this verse into my heart:

“Love is patient, love is kind, It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, and it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-5)

Gulp.

My shoulders slumped and I started to cry realizing I reacted in the complete opposite spirit.  This wasn’t the kind of mom I wanted to be.  This wasn’t the kind of mom my kids needed.

But then something cool happened.

The Holy Spirit whispered something else into my heart. “Carey… this is the perfect opportunity to teach your kids about saying sorry.”

I pulled over, turned around in my seat, and told my kids how very sorry I was for screaming at them.  I told them how valuable they were to me and how my actions didn’t show that.

I asked them to forgive me.

You know what?  That simple act made a world of difference for my kids.

• Their eyes brightened.
• They began to smile.
• The atmosphere in the car changed.

Sisters, if we are trying to raise Godly kids… we need to teach them the importance of those two powerful words, “I’m sorry.”

They have the ability to make right what our words or actions make wrong.

Not only do we need to ask for forgiveness when we do things or say things to hurt our children, but we need to make sure we align our actions, too.

In other words, we can’t continue with the same hurtful activities and assume just saying sorry makes it all better.

When we apologize to our children for our shortcomings as parents, we are modeling the importance of asking for forgiveness and the importance of giving it. 

We need to train our kids to live out Ephesians 4:32 which says “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

What a set-up for success.

Saying sorry and forgiving each other is a common practice in our home these days.  And believe me, we get lots of practice.

What is it like in your home?

I have made it one of the primary purposes of my life to stay in my body as long as I live. In fact, I have so developed my body so that there is ample room for my La-Z-Boy chair and me. I like to be comfortable.

Truth compels me to say that I have never experienced an out-of-body experience. Every night when I go to sleep, I am unconscious until morning but I do not think that counts except when it comes to sheep, but who gives a baa-baa about sheep. I have a hard time relating to these people with such esoteric experiences. I do not doubt them, I just do not relate to them.

One thing that I can relate to is “an out-of-cash” experience. There, I said it. Confession is good for the soul. For many years, I was ashamed of having these kinds of experiences. I thought I was the only one in the whole world that ever experienced such trauma in their lives. I kept it a secret for many years.

But all that has changed. I am ready to come out of the closet and confess that when it comes to cash, I am simply out of it.

It’s not that I have always had an over abundance of cash. Throughout the years, it has come in a little here and a little there but mostly nowhere. I can never remember a time when my life was flooded with so much cash I did not know what to do with it all.

Being out-of-cash must not be as bad as it sounds. I suppose the terrible thing is how a person gets to that point in life.

I wanted to write a book about my out-of-cash experience but I only got up to chapter 11.

From everything I can gather, everybody seems to be out-of-cash. Even our government has come to such a perilous place as this. The government used to say, “I feel your pain,” and now they are really feeling our pain. The government is not broken as some people attest; the government is simply broke. Now they know how I really feel.

Being out-of-cash does have some advantage.

Last Tuesday, for example, was a long hard day and I was glad to get home. When I did get home, my wife greeted me at the door and said, “Let’s go out for supper tonight. I don’t feel like cooking.”

I looked at her and said rather soberly, “I sure would love to go out tonight for supper, but I’m really out-of-cash.”

My wife gave me one of her trademark looks and said, “Let’s use your credit card.”

I would have argued but I was simply out-of-arguments. I must say that through the years she has been very generous with my credit card, which may be why I am really out-of-cash.

Being out-of-cash is not really the worst thing that can happen to a person. About three weeks ago, I had to go out of town for a little trip and forgot to fill up my gas tank. I didn’t even think about it. After all, with all the car payments and the monthly insurance payments you would think the car would come up with a little bit of cash on its own. But no, it leaves everything to me. My car once told me it was the responsibility of the owner.

I am not saying that my car is contrary but I was about 7 miles out of town when I ran out-of-gas. It does not matter how much cash you have on hand, if you run out of gas without a gas station nearby it just does not matter.

The men’s store where I usually buy my clothing was running a sale on shirts, the kind I usually wear. I had some errands to run and by the time I got to the men’s store, they had sold the last shirt. “I’m sorry,” the salesperson said, “but you’re out-of-luck.”

I am not quite sure which is worse, being out-of-cash or being out-of-luck. The truth of the matter is, no matter how much cash you have on hand if there are no more shirts left, you are simply out-of-luck.

A long time ago, I faced the simple truth that money cannot buy everything. I might be able to rent a little bit of happiness but it does not last forever. I have learned that the most important thing in life is to be balanced. Too much of anything, even a good thing, can really be harmful.

This must be what Solomon had in mind when he wrote,

“Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain” (Proverbs 30:8-9 KJV).

The problem today is not that we do not have enough; we simply are not thankful enough for what we have.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: The Rev. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship, PO Box 831313, Ocala, FL 34483. He lives with his wife, Martha, in Silver Springs Shores. Call him at 352-687-4240 or e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net. The church web site is www.whatafellowship.com.

Now, at last, discover how you can earn money by selecting the best direct sales company to suit you.

Here’s how . . .

Figure out what you want to sell. The most important step to choosing a company is deciding what to sell. The last thing you want to do is sell make-up when you don’t even wear it. You have to be enthusiastic about the product you are trying to sell; otherwise, customers will take your lack of interest as a bad sign.

Make a list of all the things you enjoy doing, such as crafts, cooking, collecting things etc. Once you’ve made your list, read it. Now circle all the things that have a common theme, like scrapbooking and painting or gardening and houseplants.

Now that you have narrowed down your list, it’s obvious to see what you enjoy doing. If most of the things on your list are craft related, then chances are, signing up with a company that focuses on crafts is suitable for you. Taking the time to learn what you are really passionate about is vital to your success. Choosing the wrong company is bound to bring failure.

Know and like your products. Now that you know the type of business you want to get into, compare your options. Which company has the kinds of products that you would buy for yourself? Once you find a company that grabs your interest, place an order. Try the products before you sell them. Are they high quality? Do they do as promised? Will you continue to use the products?

The best way to sell your products is by using them. Pam says, “I sell silver jewellery without meaning too. My intention with this company was to get the discount for myself, but once everyone saw me wearing it, they asked about it and I was in business.”

You need to be convinced that your company offers the kinds of products that will have your customers returning for more.

Research. The most common reason for failure in direct sales is lack of research. When contemplating a company, find out everything you can about them.

How long have they been in business?

How much does it cost to join?

Do you need to stock products?

Do they offer refunds or buy backs on their products?

Do they offer discounts?

What is the commission plan?

What leadership levels can be achieved and what are the rewards?

Is there any training?

Will you have a support team behind you?

What is the company’s customer service like?

How long does it take them to ship the products?

Are there any monthly minimums?

What are their advertising rules, if any?

How much control do you have over your business? Are you allowed to promote and work it however you want, or are there strict guidelines?

Learning everything there is to know about the company you are interested in will prevent future hassles. It’s not much fun buying a business kit with plans to sell online, and then you find out later that it’s against the rules.

Avoid adding another party kit to the dusty collection growing in your closet and get serious about research!

Sleep on it. If there is one thing that moms get excited about, it’s over a new way to make money at home so they can be with their kids. There is nothing wrong with being excited about a new opportunity, but this can lead to rash decisions that may be regretted the next day. The last thing you want to do is wake up the next morning, and wonder what you were thinking when you spent $200 on a gourmet food business kit, when you can’t cook to save your life.

If you want to find success in direct sales, it’s crucial that you take your time and figure out what you want to sell, get to know and like the products, thoroughly research the company and then sleep on it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kristina Cottrell, a mom and business woman, is the founder of  PartyPlanCompanies.com, an online community for women who want to start a career in direct sales. If you are looking to start your own home-based business, visit http://www.partyplancompanies.com and search through hundreds of direct sales and party plan opportunities and start working from home today!

Now the only drawback is to ensure your newsletter is worthy of being read. I subscribe to a lot of newsletters, but find I regularly only read a few upon their arrival. When I decided to create my own newsletter, one of the first things I did was to look at those newsletters I regularly read and determine what it was about them that made me want to read them. What sets them apart from the rest?

One of the most important things I discovered was that they provided me with valuable information to help me in my business and which in turn helped me make a greater profit. They often provided information I didn’t already know. For example, some newsletters provided tips on search engine optimization, new affiliate programs, PR resources, or software shortcuts. Since I’m always looking to grow my business, this information is valuable to me. You normally have knowledge in a given field that others don’t. When preparing your newsletter, think about what expert knowledge you have or can obtain that would interest your targeted market. Now that’s what you want to add to your newsletter.

In writing your newsletter, keep the following points in mind:

Your Readers

* Know your readers and what they want.

* Ask your readers for feedback and how to improve.

* Talk to your readers. Don’t just put information in your newsletter, think about that audience out there reading your newsletter. How do they feel after reading what you’ve prepared*

Your Writing Style

* Use short, simple sentences; keeping paragraphs short.

* Write clearly and avoid slang or profanity.

* Use humor and keep a refreshing tone to your writing.

* In keeping your tone friendly, also keep it professional.

* Have white space between the paragraphs.

* Use small graphics whenever applicable.

* Include your logo for business recognition.

* Use plain text. (12-14 point)

Headings

* Entice the reader with your heading to ensure they read the article. Most people decide whether they will even read the article from the heading.

* Headlines should be slightly larger than the other text.

* Use bold or italics and a good font, but don’t use all caps.

* Make sure that the heading and article talk about the same topic. It’s great to have an awesome heading, but if your article is on something else, you lose the edge you just gained.

Content of Newsletter

* Content is king! Just like on your website, it’s vital to have your newsletter or ezine packed full of useful information.

* Provide articles written by you and other experts.

* Provide any new services or features you’ve added to your business.

* Provide links of relevant press releases, articles, other sites, etc. This gives readers more information that they can review.

* Provide case studies, facts not known, etc. Sign up for Google News so that you can get information your clients might not have seen.

* Provide a collection of valuable small business tips, testimonials, etc.

* When providing your tips, list them such as this: The top ten reasons to …

* Provide a personal message from you. Many enjoy hearing how you are doing and what’s new happening in their life and business. Just don’t’ go overboard.

* Provide humorous quotations or jokes.

* Contests / Polls / Freebies / Quizzes / Games!! Let the fun begin. Why not include something that makes the reader look forward to taking a break from their busy day to read your newsletter*

* If you want to make money with your newsletter – put in ads or Google Adsense.

The Final Step — Proofing

* Make sure everything is 100% accurate with no typos.

* Make sure you have permission for any copyrighted material.

* Make sure if you have sources, you have credited them correctly.

* Make sure that what is about to go out reflects your business well.

Most ezines are “opt-in,” which means that everyone who receives it has actually registered to receive it—they want it already. Now the only thing you need to do is provide them great information that keeps them wanting it every month. And once you find a winning strategy stick with it. No need to change every month. Let your readers get used to your style and way of writing. Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter at http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Diana Ennen is the author of numerous books including Virtual Assistant: the Series, Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA, Words From Home, Start, Run and Profit from a Home-Based Word Processing Business & the Home Office Recovery Plan. She specializes in publicity and book marketing and is president of Virtual Word Publishing http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com and http://www.Publicity-VA.com. Articles are free to be reprinted as long as the author’s bio remains intact.

Hire help when possible. Early in my work-at-home career, I asked a successful Realtor® this question, “If you had one piece of advice to give someone who works for herself, what would it be? She was so certain of her answer she didn’t even pause to think. “Never do yourself what you can pay someone else to do,” she responded.

I asked her to explain. “I’m a Realtor®,” she said. “And the best use of my time is listing and selling houses. I hire someone to do everything else I need done.” A graphic designer creates all her mailings for her, and a mailing house applies the postage and sorts the brochures according to postal regulations. An assistant sets up showings and confirms appointments. She focuses on securing listings, working with buyers, and selling properties. And that’s how she has become successful.

As my business has grown, I’ve worked hard to identify what I can outsource—and that’s not easy for someone who has trouble delegating! Since focusing on this concept, I’ve added a freelance web designer, graphic designer, marketer, and virtual assistant to my team. Using their skills, talents and abilities, I’ve been able to meet my workload, expand my business and reduce my stress level. Yes, it costs. But I remember something my father taught me: It takes money to make money. I believe I’m more effective because I’ve added these professionals to my team. Though I couldn’t do it when I first started my business, it’s a tactic to keep in mind as you grow your business.

Enjoy the journey. It’s not easy to work from home. When I start to feel overwhelmed and stressed, I choose to focus my energy on the privilege it is to do work I love with the flexibility I have. This helps reground me. I also remind myself that life is too short to be miserable. I re-pledge to continue being both “mom” and “CEO” only for as long as I enjoy it. When the joy is gone, I know it will be time to do something else. Until then, I’m committed to learning new ways to successfully grow both a family and a business under one roof.

About the Author:
Mary Byers is a professional speaker and the author of Making Work at Home Work: Successfully Growing a Family and a Business Under One Roof. To learn more about starting or accelerating your own entrepreneurial journey, read Mary’s blog at www.makingworkathomework.com.